The view from a small corner of Anglesey...
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The view from a small corner of Anglesey...
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Newborough Forest from Llanddwyn Island |
Newborough ForestWho'd think as they wandered along the beach to Llanddwyn Island that one forest could be the cause of heated debate. Should the forest go because it interfers with the movement of sand and lowers water tables under it; or should it stay as a reserve for red squirrels, ravens, leaches, toads and shivering tourists sheltering from the elements?
In Winter 2014-2015, 21ha along the coast towards Malltreath and around
the main carpark were felled including the remnants of the early
planting trials. Large breaches in the costal dunes have been created
to encourage sand to blow inland.
Meanwhile the shoreline retreats, the picnic area at the end of the
disabled walkway buit in 2013 collapsed in to the sea in Jan 2014, when
storms ate 10m into the dunes. I have been monitoring the water levels across the warren for the last
10 years, independently of CCW (now part of NRW). My observations are
that flooding across the warren is controlled by the rainfall, and
lowered by coastal erosion. In 2015 NRW started monitoring a small part
of the forest adjacent to the warren as part of a 3 year study to
assess the effects of clearfelling a small block of forest, a few
hundred meters from where major excavation work occurred earlier in
2015. I have been told by CCW staff that if the results show that
clearfelling the forest has increased water levels by a millimeter then
CCW will press for large scale removal of the forest. These pages concentrate on the debate around the hydrological isssues such as 'does the forest effect water levels in the warren?'.
What's the problem with the forest? Whats the scientific consenus? Why all the fuss about a scrappy bit of pine forest? Waterlevels at NewboroughWater levels (2005-2018)
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Copyright © Martin Hollingham |
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